Current Final

Category: Politics

  • Bakhtawar Bhutto announces the name of her son

    Bakhtawar Bhutto announces the name of her son

    The daughter of late Benazir Bhutto and former President Asif Ali Zardari, Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari, took to Twitter to announce the name of her son.

    “Mir Hakim Mahmood Choudhry,” tweeted Bakhtawar. She added that Mir Hakim is named after her late maternal uncle Mir and her late paternal grandfather Hakim Ali Zardari.

    Last week, Bakhtwar took to Twitter and informed her fans and followers with a health update, saying that her little baby boy is currently in a Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) but getting stronger.

    Bakhtawar tweeted, “Thank you for all the love & celebrations welcoming our little baby boy to the world.”

    Bakhtawar’s son was born on October 10.

  • ‘Imran Khan trying to turn army, ISI into his Tiger Force’: Bilawal Bhutto

    ‘Imran Khan trying to turn army, ISI into his Tiger Force’: Bilawal Bhutto

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, while addressing a PPP rally at Karachi’s Bagh-i-Jinnah, accused Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan of turning the army and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency into Tiger Force, saying that the current state of the country shows that this is not ‘tabdeeli but destruction’.

    “He (PM Imran) is trying to turn the army and ISI into his Tiger Force,” said Bilawal.

    “Whatever task Imran Khan undertook saw destruction instead of the promised tabdeeli (change),” he said. 

    “Imran Khan is also trying to turn all institutions of the country into his Tiger Force. He attacked the parliament, Senate, judiciary, Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Punjab Police, and Punjab bureaucracy as he changed the Punjab Police chief and chief secretary many times. No institution is left as he is even trying to make the media his Tiger Force,” Bilawal alleged.

    “PPP jiyalas will not spare him. Whenever he speaks, he makes a mistake. Now we are warning Khan that his days are numbered,” said Bilawal.

    Bilawal’s comments come as the speculation continues about the appointment of the head of ISI, following the unusual delay in the issuance of official notification of Lieutenant General (Lt Gen) Nadeem Ahmed Anjum’s appointment as the new spymaster.

  • ‘Inflation is happening all over the world, reason unknown’: Shaukat Tarin

    ‘Inflation is happening all over the world, reason unknown’: Shaukat Tarin

    Speaking at a press conference in Washington, Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin said that other items, including oil, are becoming more expensive all over the world and the reason why they are happening is not known, reports Geo News.

    Tarin said, “If the effects of the Covid pandemic reduce, inflation will come down and targeted subsidies of 40 per cent will be given to the country’s population.”

    He added that one billion dollars are to be expected from International Monetary Fund (IMF), which will be confirmed in the next two days.

    Moreover, the government on Friday decided to appoint Shaukat Tarin as the Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance, as his six-month tenure as the financial adviser is expiring today, sources told Geo News.

    The finance minister was supposed to get elected as a senator — a prerequisite to continue as finance minister — as the six-month time limit to elect him as a member of parliament expires today.

  • ‘I get migraine’: Sheheryar Afridi reveals reason behind visit to France

    Chairperson of the Parliamentary Special Committee on Kashmir, Shehryar Khan Afridi, who is on a special visit to France, revealed why he was there.

    When asked by journalist Younas Khan whether he has had any interactions with parliamentarians or Tink Tank as he is touring France, Afridi said, “I get migraine. I was told about a doctor here. So for the first two-three days, I need to get treatment.”

    Reporter Younas Khan shared the clip on Twitter. “You are the chairman of the Kashmir Committee. Your job is to play a role in diplomacy on the Kashmir issues all over the world.”

    “You are in France. Which Think Tank did you meet here? Have you talked to any parliamentarian on Kashmir?” questioned Younas.

    “The culture is different here, you have to take appointments a month prior from parliamentarians and think tanks here. There is a proper channel here,” said Afridi.

    He added that he is reaching out to the Pakistani and Kashmiri communities during his stay in France and Italy. He also mentioned that he met stakeholders during his United States (US) visit. Afridi said that his next visit to Canada, Brussels, and Britain will include interactions with parliamentarians and Think Tanks.

  • Aiwan-e-Sadr certified as world’s first presidency to go green

    The Aiwan-e-Sadr on Friday achieved a distinctive distinction as it was awarded an international certification of ISO 50001 EnMS, making it the world’s first President Secretariat running on clean energy.

    According to the presidency, President Dr Arif Alvi has successfully cut down over 35 per cent of its energy use, which would save Rs72.5 million to the national exchequer.

    After assuming office in 2018, President Alvi had envisioned a Green Presidency Initiative to curtail President Secretariat’s energy usage and shift it to a renewable energy source.

    The president described the monetary benefits of going green and said savings from energy conservation and clean energy generation were equivalent to 3,154,750 KWh. The initiative equates to 3,144 tons reduction of greenhouse gases and plantation of 142,909 mature trees.

    Alvi said the Presidency’s initiative should also be replicated across the country considering the importance of energy conservation across the world. He also thanked the private sector companies who supported the initiative under their Corporate Social Responsibility.

    While launching the initiative, Alvi said he never thought of getting such recognition. He asked the youth to be conscious of the global needs considering the sensitivity of the situation.

  • In pictures: Bani Gala decorated for Rabiul Awal

    Prime Minister Imran Khan shared a picture of his Bani Gala home, which is decorated in preparation for the Rabiul Awal celebrations.

    Rabiul Awal is the third month in the Islamic calendar. Muslims all over the world celebrate this month for the birth of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

    Bani Gala can be seen decorated with lights and lanterns.

    PM Imran Khan, in a special message, announced, “12th Rabiul Awal will be the biggest celebration in the history of Pakistan, the world will see that such joys have never been celebrated before.”

  • Reham Khan loses defamation case to Zulfi Bukhari, pays £50,000

    Prime Minister Imran Khan’s former wife Reham Khan has lost to former Special Assistant Sayed Zulfi Bukhari in a defamation case and has reportedly paid £50,000 as a contribution towards Bukhari’s costs and damages, reported Murtaza Ali Shah for Geo News.

    In a statement attached with the court order, which she agreed to publish, Reham withdrew all allegations and rendered a full and unconditional apology.

    Khan posted her apology on Twitter, in which she wrote, “On 6 and 7 December 2019, I published a video on my YouTube Channel, my Facebook page, and on my Twitter account in which I asserted that Sayed Zulfikar Abbas Bukhari, more commonly known as Zulfi Bukhari, was involved in a corrupt plan with the Prime Minister of Pakistan to sell or acquire the Roosevelt Hotel in New York at an undervalue for his benefit.”

    “These allegations were false and untrue. Zulfi Bukhari, as I now understand, was not involved in any corrupt plan PM Khan to sell or acquire the Roosevelt,” she added.

    https://twitter.com/RehamKhan1/status/1448797012728688644?s=20

    Reham also posted her apology video on her youtube channel.

    https://youtu.be/_1ecyzzXcmc

    Zulfi, in a tweet, while reacting to Reham’s video said, “TRUTH ALWAYS WINS!”

    In the settlement agreed between the two parties, Reham agreed that she will tweet the apology and clarification and pin it to her Twitter account for at least three consecutive days.

    Reacting to the development, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said, “Reham being a liar was proved once again. She is actually a habitual liar.”

  • Forced conversion issue in only three districts of Sindh: Noor-ul-Haq Qadri

    Forced conversion issue in only three districts of Sindh: Noor-ul-Haq Qadri

    A parliamentary committee on Wednesday rejected the anti-forced conversion bill. The bill was opposed by the Ministry of Religious Affairs. The bill was aimed at protecting minorities from forced religious conversion.

    Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Noor-ul-Haq Qadri while speaking about the issue in Geo News programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’, said that the issue of forced conversion of religion was only in three districts of Sindh, whereas such cases in KP, Punjab, and Balochistan were rare. He said that the issue could be resolved through administrative discipline.

    However, journalist Benazir Shah while quoting a study has said in a tweet that, “Between 2013-2020, the highest incidence of alleged forced conversions was reported in Punjab, finds the Centre for Social Justice.”

    He continued by adding, “We opposed the forced conversion of religion because according to Islamic teachings, no one could be forced to change religion.”

    The minister also said that there should be no restrictions on anyone under the age of 18 changing their religion, as this would be considered interfering in someone’s personal life.

    The proposed bill which is rejected also included punishment between five to 10 years and a fine from Rs100,000 to Rs200,000 to any person who uses criminal force to convert a person to another religion.

  • ‘PM Khan cannot take no for an answer’: Rauf Klasra reveals premier’s relationship with establishment

    ‘PM Khan cannot take no for an answer’: Rauf Klasra reveals premier’s relationship with establishment

    Senior journalist Rauf Klasra, while presenting his political analysis on the present rift between the government and establishment on the appointment of new director-general (DG) Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency on Hum News, said, “Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan cannot take ‘no’ for an answer.”

    “I think the prime minister is offended by this. A popular leader or hero is accustomed to having ‘yes’ said to them. They cannot take ‘no’ for an answer. Our brothers in Rawalpindi [establishment] need to share the blame here. You [establishment] have made a child used to the [yes culture] in [the past] three years,” said Klasra, alluding to PM Khan.

    “You [establishment] made the child habitual of hearing a ‘yes’, now you have said ‘no this cannot happen’, eventually the child will react,” added Klasra.

    Klasra further said, “You [establishment] have always done fire fighting for PM Khan, managed everything for him, you did not let Khan Saab get hurt by a mere thorn. You [establishment] managed the media and the media owners [for him], you [establishment] managed anchors and politicians [for him] as well. You [establishment] managed Opposition, Parliament and Senate too, name anything [and you (establishment) managed that for him].”

    Klasra went on to reveal that the establishment even helped the premier in taking down two tweets of journalists. After this statement, anchorperson Mohammad Malick interjected and said that “allegedly two tweets were asked to bring down, let’s keep it safe .”

    “You [establishment] have managed so much for the premier and now if he has asked for something, he hasn’t asked for the moon, he only asked for six months extension of his favourite Lieutenant General (Lt Gen) Faiz Hameed’s tenure,” said Klasra.

    Klasra said that the reason for this demand of the premier wanting Lt Gen Faiz Hameed to stay as the DG ISI was for his work in Afghanistan. Adding that as per his sources, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa has explained to PM Khan that “ISI is an institution, and it handles matters in Afghanistan, India, America as an institution and not on the basis of an individual. Nothing will get affected by the appointment of the new director-general. The new appointee will get the support of the institution and the situation in Afghanistan shall be handled.”

    The army has always handled regional security issues, not the prime minister, said Klasra. “In my opinion, PM Khan needed Lt Gen Faiz Hameed for his personal and political issues,” said Klasra, and Malick once again interjected and said “Allegedly”.

  • Fawad Chaudhry says PM Khan will meet all candidates for DG ISI slot

    Fawad Chaudhry says PM Khan will meet all candidates for DG ISI slot

    Following the emergency meeting of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) parliamentary group at Parliament House yesterday, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry told the media that the notification regarding the appointment of new director-general (DG) Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency would be issued in two to three days, reports Dawn.

    Fawad denied that the premier would take interviews of the potential candidates but said: “Prime Minister Imran Khan will just meet all candidates (for the slot of DG ISI)”.

    No such interviews have been taken in the past by any prime minister. Rather the official who is selected as head of the ISI pays a goodwill visit to the prime minister after his appointment.

    However, during the parliamentary meeting, PM Khan assured the party leaders that the issue of the appointment of the new ISI chief has been amicably settled by him and Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa and that the government will complete its five-year term.

    Prior to the party meeting, Fawad Chaudhry while talking to reporters at Parliament House, said, “Everyone, at the turn of every hour, is trying to twist the matter to gain some popularity.”